When Apple released iOS 14.2 last month, it included an update for older iPhones that people may find useful in these socially distanced times.
Although Apple didn’t make any mention of it in the notes for the update, it has now made FaceTime calls available in 1080p over WiFi for the iPhone 8, X, XR, XS, SE, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max versions, as noted by MacMagazine.
Previously, these phones could only support WiFi FaceTime calls in 720p; this update brings them in line with the iPhone 12. Given that iPhones are very popular in the UK, but people may have held off on buying an iPhone 12 at launch because of economic uncertainty, this update is welcome for the millions of people who haven’t yet made the jump to Apple’s 5G debut.
Over at The Verge, they gave FaceTime a spin on an iPhone 8, and seemed to get a visual upgrade, although there’s a good chance that older models will suffer in the battery department due to the increased resolution of calls.
It’s a bit strange that Apple didn’t mention this update in the changelog for the update, but it has added the new capability to the relevant iPhones’ product and comparison pages. However, it’s still a pleasant surprise for many people who have taken to video calling this year, especially with the festive period coming up and people much less likely to spend it with their extended family than in previous years.